New DEC member Shane Hamblin of Zions Bank Joins returning member, Kristin Kyle-McQuesten of Banner Bank at the DEC/SBA booth during the Idaho Manufacturing Alliance Trade Show in 2023.
Jennifer Woods started as Director of the U.S. Commercial Service office in Idaho in November 2023, after moving from Tennessee, where she was Director of the Knoxville Commercial Service Office. Jennifer began her career as a Foreign Service officer from 1997 to 2000, then worked as a Senior International Trade Specialist from 2000 to 2017. She then served as a Senior Foreign Commercial Service Officer in Lagos, Nigeria, for four and a half years. Jennifer has also served the agency in Tokyo, Japan, and Portland, Oregon. Before joining the Commercial Service, Jennifer worked in the private sector for ten years in international marketing for several high-tech companies in the Washington, D.C.metro area. She speaks both Japanese and French and has an M.A. from Johns Hopkins SAIS, and is a CGBP.
Several members of the Idaho District Export Council accompanied Brad Little on the Governor’s Trade Mission to Mexico on November 13-17, 2023
The Idaho District Export Council recently unveiled its 2023-2024 Sponsorship Program and is seeking sponsors who are interested in connecting with the Idaho export community. The IDEC is a volunteer organization comprising professionals from Idaho industries and service providers with extensive knowledge of international business. IDEC members offer valuable advice to help other Idaho companies compete and succeed in the global marketplace.
Another pillar of Idaho’s export community road off into the sunset during the October IDEC meeting. Lee Gibbs announced his retirement from Zion Bank after 41 years of helping businesses wrangle international business issues.
Amy Benson, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service in Idaho, recently informed the DEC that she had accepted a USCS position in South Africa. For 19 years, Amy provided peerless service to the export community in Idaho. Amy’s name became synonymous with “Export.” Though Amy’s departure leaves a hole in our hearts, DEC members are excited to see Amy follow her heart and take on a big adventure.
Hey Exporters! The 2023 U.S. National Export Strategy is an important piece of the puzzle regarding the United States Department of Commerce’s efforts to promote U.S. strength in future industries and create jobs all around the country.
The goals of STEP are to increase the number of small businesses that export, increase the value of exports and increase the number of small businesses exploring significant new trade opportunities.
This September, Discover Global Markets will take place in seven cities throughout the U.S. These one-day business forums will feature opportunities to connect with industry leaders, schedule one-on-one meetings with U.S. commercial diplomats and specialists based in key European markets, and network with fellow exporters.
On June 14, the Idaho District Export Council (DEC), under the leadership of its Chair, Gerd Uitdewilligen, had the honor of meeting with Kendee Yamaguchi – the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Field Global Markets – at Black Sage Technologies in Boise, Idaho. The DEC is immensely grateful to Black Sage and Ann Wood, the President of Black Sage and a seasoned DEC member, for graciously hosting this event.
In celebration of World Trade Month, the U.S. Commercial Service hosted a number of export sessions during the week of May 1-5, 2023! The sessions, led by both private and public sector experts, will feature tradecraft programs and industry focused opportunities. Many of the programs are being offered free of charge and you can choose as many as you’d like to attend. Whether you are new-to-export or an experienced exporter, Export Week will provide valuable information on forward thinking strategies and invaluable resources to increase your global sales.
Are you an Idaho business owner interested in exporting to Taiwan and South East Asia?
Idaho’s Taiwan and South East Asia Trade Manager, Eddie Yen will be available to meet with Idaho companies from April 3 – April 14.
Can you help the IEP raise scholarship money to provide more opportunities to local community members to improve their English skills for professional and academic purposes? The Dorothy Strickland Scholarship for the Intensive English Program was created in 2022 in honor of Dr. Dorothy Strickland, a champion for the underserved. 100% of your donation will directly fund these student scholarships.
In the Ditch™ Towing Products is a lean manufacturing company based in Mountain Home, Idaho that creates award-winning products for the towing industry, which are sold around the world. It is ITD’s belief that if it focuses on developing the products of tomorrow, invests in the technologies of the future, and empowers team members with the ability to improve their daily processes, that there can be only one outcome; success. Demand Quality. Demand In The Ditch™.
Founded in 2011, Telic is a producer of innovative footwear that distributes to over 30 countries. The product is worn by devoted athletes seeking to recover after training and competition, and by healthy lifestyle consumers to rejuvenate from their daily activities. Telic Novalon® technology is engineered to offer supreme shock absorption and support for unparalleled comfort with maximum recovery benefits. Telic is allergen-free, latex-free, toxin-free and sweatshop-free.Telic’s heritage dates back over a century to co-founder Rocco Azzarito’s grandfather, Francisco. The son of a shoe cobbler, Francisco followed his dreams from Italy to the United States where he enjoyed a 50-year career in the American footwear industry. His passion lives on at Telic today.
Out of the need for better products in their own patient care, Dale Perkins, CPO, and son Matt Perkins founded Coyote in 1999. They continue to work closely with orthotic and prosthetic wearers, clinicians, and technicians to provide products, methods, and designs that will continue to improve the field of orthotics and prosthetics. Both Matt and Dale are amputees themselves, making their passion very personal. In 2012 Coyote was awarded the Blue Ribbon by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as a Dream Big Small Business of the Year.
With farming relationships and operations throughout the United States, Central America, and Mexico, Kingston Fresh is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of both domestic and international customers. Exporting to multiple countries around the world, Kingston Fresh is an experienced Multi-National grower-shipper with nearly 50 years in business.
BALMSHOT provides the best in lip care! BALMSHOT is made with top quality beeswax, aloe, SPF 15 sunscreen and wonderful natural ingredients. The unique shotgun shell design will improve your look this summer! Don’t let any weather condition damage your lips, so use BALMSHOT!
Supply chain disruptions from COVID-19 will take years to rebalance, particularly for the food industry. For food, implications stretch beyond when everyone else reaches a “new normal”.
Rekluse began responding to overseas requests of its products from its beginning in 2002. Initial export growth was random and unplanned, The company quickly tapped into federal, state, and local export resources, including the Idaho District Export Council, to develop a proactive pathway to sustained export success.
Idaho exporters including members of the Idaho District Export Council will join Idaho Governor Brad Little on the Governor’s Trade Mission to Taiwan & Japan on November 4-8, 2024.
Jennifer Verdon of the IDEC will lead a new Pacific Northwest Rural Export Center based in Idaho. The Pac NW REC is one of eight regional centers conducting rural outreach in their respective territories. Rural Export Centers empower rural U.S. companies to thrive in international markets through actionable market intelligence and global connections. Each REC ensures that we reach rural companies and educate them on the services and solutions of the Rural Export Center and the Commercial Service to help increase exports from rural America.